Ex-PNP official pleads guilty to perjury, misdeclaring SALN

MANILA, Philippines — Former Police Chief Superintendent and criminal Investigation and Detention Group Chief Eduardo Matillano of the Philippine National Police has pleaded guilty to three counts of Perjury and eight counts of violation of Section 8 of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards of Public Officials and Employees.

Matillano, who was previously assigned as the Regional Director of the PNP Regional Office XI, through his counsel, moved that he be allowed to withdraw his earlier plea of not guilty to the charges and manifested that he fully understood the nature and cause of the accusations against him. The prosecution posted no objection to the motion.

In a three-page Decision, the Sandiganbayan sentenced Matillano to one month to one-year prison term for each count of Perjury, and to pay a fine of P1,000.00 in each of the eight criminal cases of violation of R.A. No. 6713.

Matillano was indicted after the Office of the Ombudsman found that he failed to file his Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth for the years 1994 to 2000 and 2004. He also failed to declare in his 2001 to 2003 SALNs five real properties situated in Antipolo City and Palawan, 10 different motor vehicles, business interests and financial connections to Palawan Agromate Products, Inc., First Food Caterer’s & Managers Corporation, Warbird Security Investigation Agency, Inc. and two other firm.-EZC/Newsline.ph